An Independent Taiwan

Published: September 7, 2000

As a Taiwanese-American, I agree with President Chen Shui-bian that Taiwan should not move toward unification with Communist China but rather toward becoming a free, democratic and independent country.

Whether this will ''risk China's ire'' is less important. Didn't American colonists risk British ire when they wanted to be free from oppression and declared independence in 1776? China should accept Taiwan as a friendly neighbor just as Britain now accepts the United States.

This direction is indeed a break from the policies of the Nationalist Party, which ruled Taiwan for 55 years. It is for this reason that the people of Taiwan voted in Mr. Chen and the Democratic Progressive Party.